A barber has been ordered to remove a bench that has been set outside his shop for 15 years or pay for an expensive £500 permit.
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that → order → permit
Michael Vasili, 42, runs George's Barber Room in Kentish Town, north London - started by his father George Vasili, in 1989.
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Vasili → run → 1989
The bench had been there for waiting customers to sit on, for staff to take their breaks, and for passersby to perch on for a rest.
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passersby → wait → rest
But two weeks ago, a Camden Council officer came by ordering that the shop pay £500 for a permit to keep the bench, followed by a £350 annual renewal fee.
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shop → come → fee
Mr Vasili says they are unable to afford this extra cost, so they have been forced to remove the bench.
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they → say → bench
But he is now campaigning for it to be returned at no added cost.
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it → campaign → cost
He said: 'I was pretty shocked.
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I → say → ?
We let anyone sit on the chair; it is not just for customers.
'
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it → let → customers
We are a community barbershop; everyone knows us.
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everyone → know → us
For them to do that, it's like, is this the thank-you we get?
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we → do → that
Michael Vasili, 42, has been ordered to remove the bench outside his London barbers by the council or pay for a £500 permit which renews for £350 annually
The bench had been there for waiting customers to sit on, for staff to take their breaks, and for passersby to perch on for a rest
'
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passersby → order → rest
It is expensive and things are hard at the minute with bills going up.
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bills → go → minute
Now they are trying to make money off the sun.
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they → try → sun
'I think it is very unfair.
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it → think → ?
It is going to have a big impact on me.
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It → go → me
I am going to try my hardest to get the bench back.'
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I → go → bench
Mr Vasili says the bench is used by everyone in the community, and he has received a lot of support since it was taken away.
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it → say → support
He claims that the pavement is around seven metres wide, so the seat doesn't cause any obstruction.
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seat → claim → obstruction
The bench, which was rescued from a closing-down pub, is put away every evening when they close, so it is not available unless they are working.
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they → rescue → pub
He believes the council should not be using one rule for all businesses, and should be analysing based on impact and what the bench is used for.
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bench → believe → what
He said: 'Old people use it when they are walking to the station for a little break.
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they → say → break
For someone to come and tell us after 15 years without even discussing it first was a big shock.
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come → come → it
'In the summer it was very hot, so we sit outside to get a bit of fresh air.
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we → sit → air
Now we have got nowhere to sit.
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we → get → ?
'It is a bit disappointing really because it is for the community, and Camden Council always talk about community projects.
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Council → talk → projects
They are putting us in the same category as pubs and restaurants and cafes, but we are not, we are just a local barbershop.'
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we → put → pubs
Mr Vasili has now set up a petition, which has received more than 140 signatures in two weeks
'
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which → set → weeks
We are just trying to make the community a nice spot here and they have ruined it,' Mr Vasili added
Mr Vasili has now set up a petition, which has received more than 140 signatures in two weeks.
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which → try → weeks
Once he has sorted some paperwork and the petition has more traction, he is going to try and negotiate with the council for his bench's return.
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he → sort → return
He added: 'We are just trying to make the community a nice spot here and they have ruined it.
'
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they → add → it
People have been going crazy.
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People → go → ?
One of my customers said they will sit outside and chain themselves to it.
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they → say → it
'It is disgusting really that we are not allowed to sit outside our shop.
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we → allow → shop
We pay enough, and we do enough for this high street.
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we → pay → street
Instead of them helping us, they are taking more money off us.
'
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they → help → us
I know it is only a bench, but it does make a big difference.
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it → know → difference
I believe we can get it back, but I am not paying for it.'
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I → believe → it
A Camden Council spokesperson said: 'We appreciate this bench is well-loved by the local community and hope it continues to be.
'
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it → say → community
As it sits on the public highway, a pavement licence is required by law, with annual costs in Camden in line with other London boroughs.
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licence → sit → boroughs
We will continue to work to ensure that the same regulations apply fairly and consistently across the borough.'
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regulations → continue → borough
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